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Orlando Magic Daily Facebook Live: First Quarter Review

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 29: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic speaks to the media after the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 29, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 29: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic speaks to the media after the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 29, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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We are more than a quarter of the way through the Orlando Magic’s season. What did we learn and what questions are left for the next 20 games?

The Orlando Magic’s first quarter of the season was a roller coaster in many ways. The team got off to a fast start and had everyone believing in them again. The Magic were the talk of the league. Everyone wondered if the Magic were the surprise team to rise out of the Eastern Conference.

Everyone also seemed to know the team’s shooting percentages were going to come back down to earth. No one took the Magic as the best team in the Eastern Conference seriously. But there was plenty of belief the Magic could leap into the Playoff conversation.

That quickly began to dissipate as the Magic suffered through injuries — first Elfrid Payton, then D.J. Augustin and Jonathan Isaac. And then began to show signs of their poor habits that devolved their season last year into the 29-win disaster that it was.

Orlando was searching for its identity and much more in the first quarter of the season. The team was seeking some form of stability.

There were the bright spots — Aaron Gordon‘s emergence chief among them. But the first 20-or-so games raised a lot of questions and began to set the future in motion for the Magic. President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman certainly has gained a lot of information from the first quarter of the season.

As things stand now, the Magic are 10-14 and 2.5 games out of the final Playoff spot. Orlando had a difficult schedule to start the season and survival seemed like it would be enough for this growing team. The Magic certainly accomplished that goal.

But how they got there is the troubling part. Starting off so strong and then falling so hard exposed too many weaknesses perhaps. Although it is not eliminating by any means.

The Magic are 13th in the league in offensive rating and have been a revelation on that end in many ways. But they are also 22nd in defensive rating. A sign of major concern, and perhaps the team’s biggest weakness.

On this week’s Orlando Magic Daily Facebook Live, I recapped the first quarter of the season. I discussed these issues, how the Magic got to this point and what questions they have left to answer in the next 20 games of the season:

The Magic have had plenty of good. The fast start was a big one. But so was the development of the team’s first-quarter MVP, Aaron Gordon (more on that in a post later this week). Orlando had a lot to like in the first quarter of the season.

But there is obviously still a lot of work to do.

In the next quarter of the season, the Magic have to show better composure and will to win. They need to continue to allow Gordon to explore and expand his game. And Orlando needs to stay in touch in the Playoff race.

That is a lot to accomplish. Luckily, the Magic’s second-quarter schedule is a bit more manageable. And the second half of the schedule features more home games and an opportunity to gain ground.

But that will be meaningless without a stronger second quarter to the season.

Next: Jeff Weltman: Orlando Magic need to find their persona

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